U.S. patent application number 14/985824 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-21 for method and system for implementing alarms for medical device through mobile device.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Sung-ho CHOI, Hang-chan KIM, Chang-sub LEE, Jong-rip LEE, Sung-hwa LEE.
Application Number | 20160110985 14/985824 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50239379 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160110985 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Jong-rip ; et
al. |
April 21, 2016 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING ALARMS FOR MEDICAL DEVICE
THROUGH MOBILE DEVICE
Abstract
Provided are a method and system for implementing alarms for a
medical device through a mobile device. The method includes:
storing details of examination of a specimen (hereinafter, referred
to as examination details) in the medical device, wherein the
storing is performed by the medical device; accessing the medical
device and establishing a connection with the medical device,
wherein the accessing and the establishing of the connection is
performed by the mobile device; reading the examination details
stored in the medical device, wherein the reading is performed by
the mobile device; analyzing the read examination details, wherein
the analyzing is performed by the mobile device; and implementing
an alarm if the result of analysis satisfies a predetermined
criterion, wherein the implementing is performed by the mobile
device.
Inventors: |
LEE; Jong-rip; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; KIM; Hang-chan; (Suwon-si, KR) ; LEE;
Sung-hwa; (Anyang-si, KR) ; LEE; Chang-sub;
(Mokpo-si, KR) ; CHOI; Sung-ho; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
50239379 |
Appl. No.: |
14/985824 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14186399 |
Feb 21, 2014 |
9230420 |
|
|
14985824 |
|
|
|
|
61767978 |
Feb 22, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/539.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 40/67 20180101;
H04M 1/72538 20130101; A61B 5/0002 20130101; G08B 21/02 20130101;
H04B 1/3827 20130101; G06F 19/3418 20130101; A61B 5/0022
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G08B 21/02 20060101
G08B021/02; H04B 1/3827 20060101 H04B001/3827 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 23, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0044881 |
Claims
1. A method of implementing an alarm for a medical device through a
mobile device, the method comprising: storing examination details
of a specimen in the medical device; establishing a connection with
the medical device, the establishing the connection being performed
by the mobile device; reading the examination details stored in the
medical device, the reading being performed by the mobile device;
analyzing the read examination details, the analyzing being
performed by the mobile device; and outputting an alarm if a result
of the analyzing satisfies a predetermined criterion, wherein the
outputting is performed by the mobile device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing the connection
is repetitively performed for every predetermined period.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is maintained only
while the mobile device reads the examination details from the
medical device.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein if a result of the analyzing
satisfies the predetermined criterion, the result of the
examination of the specimen deviates from a preset range, or the
examination of the specimen is completed.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the preset range is set for an
examination item of an individual examinee.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein when the examination result
deviates from the preset range and falls within a critical range,
an alarm is output, and an alarm notification is transmitted to a
predetermined destination.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device recognizes a
plurality of mobile devices to record therein a history of the
examination details that have been read by the plurality of mobile
devices and allows the mobile device to read only examination
details that have not been read by the mobile device.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm is implemented as at
least one from among a bell sound, music, an acoustic sound, a
vibration, flashing light, and a popup window.
9. A mobile device for implementing an alarm for a medical device,
the mobile device comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit
requests for establishing a connection with the medical device and
to read examination details of a specimen stored in the medical
device; a receiver configured to receive from the medical device a
response to accept the request for establishing the connection with
the medical device and the examination details; a processor
configured to analyze the received examination details and to
determine whether a result of analysis of the examination details
satisfies a predetermined criterion; and an alarm unit configured
to output an alarm if the result of analysis satisfies the
predetermined criterion.
10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the request for
establishing the connection with the medical device is repetitively
made for every predetermined period.
11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the connection is
maintained only while the mobile device establishes the connection
with the medical device and receives the examination details from
the medical device.
12. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein if the result of analysis
satisfies the predetermined criterion, the result of the
examination of the specimen deviates from a preset range, or the
examination of the specimen is completed.
13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the preset range is set
for an examination item of an individual examinee.
14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein when the examination
result deviates from the preset range and falls within a critical
range, an alarm is output, and an alarm notification is transmitted
to a predetermined destination.
15. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is set
to read only examination details that have not been read
previously.
16. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the alarm is implemented
as at least one from among a bell sound, music, an acoustic sound,
a vibration, flashing light, and a popup window.
17. A medical device for implementing an alarm through a mobile
device, the medical device comprising: a specimen inserter
configured to insert the specimen; an examination and processing
unit configured to examine the specimen and process the result of
examination of the specimen; a storage unit configured to store the
examination result; a receiver configured to receive a request for
establishing a connection and to read examination details of the
specimen from the mobile device; and a transmitter configured to
transmit a response that accepts the request for establishing the
connection together with the examination details.
18. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the request for
establishing the connection is repetitively made for every
predetermined period.
19. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the connection is
maintained only while the mobile device establishes the connection
with the medical device and receives the examination details from
the medical device.
20. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the transmitter
transmits the examination result defined as particular values or
ranges of values.
21. The medical device of claim 20, wherein when the examination
result deviates from a preset range and falls within a critical
range, the transmitter transmits an alarm notification to a
predetermined destination.
22. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the medical device
recognizes a plurality of mobile devices to record therein a
history of the examination details that have been read by the
plurality of mobile devices and allows the mobile device to read
only examination details that have not been read by the mobile
device.
23. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the mobile device
analyzes the received examination details and outputs an alarm if
the result of analysis of the examination details satisfies a
predetermined criterion.
24. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the alarm is
implemented as at least one from among a bell sound, music, an
acoustic sound, a vibration, flashing light, and a popup
window.
25. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having
recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 1 on a
computer.
26. A method of implementing an alarm for a medical device through
a mobile device, the method comprising: storing information about a
current status of the medical device in the medical device;
establishing a connection with the medical device, the establishing
the connection being performed by the mobile device; reading the
information about the current status of the medical device stored
in the medical device, the reading being performed by the mobile
device; and displaying the information read by the mobile device on
a screen.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the current status is at least
one from among a standby status, an off status, a disconnected
status, and an examination in-progress status.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the examination in-progress
status is represented by displaying a rate of examination progress
on the screen by a percentage value or a graphical
representation.
29. A mobile device for implementing an alarm for a medical device,
the mobile device comprising: a transmitter configured transmit a
request for establishing a connection with the medical device and
to read information about a current status of the medical device,
stored in the medical device; a receiver configured to receive from
the medical device a response to accept the request for
establishing the connection with the medical device and the
information about the current status of the medical device; and a
display configured to display the received information about the
current status of the medical device.
30. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein the current status is at
least one from among a standby status, an off status, a
disconnected status, and an examination in-progress status.
31. The mobile device of claim 30, wherein an examination
in-progress status is represented by displaying a rate of
examination progress on the screen by a percentage value or a
graphical representation.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
14/186,399, filed Feb. 21, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/767,978, filed on Feb. 22, 2013, in
the US Patent Office and Korean Patent Application No.
10-2013-0044881, filed on Apr. 23, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein
in their entireties by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] One or more exemplary embodiments relate to a method and
system for implementing alarms for a medical device through a
mobile device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Ubiquitous healthcare (U-Health) integrates information
technology (IT) with health and medical care to provide healthcare
services such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up
management of diseases. With dissemination of the U-Health concept,
an increasing number of medical devices that are used inside or
outside a hospital tend to be connected to one another via a
network. However, a user of a medical device for providing
examination and diagnosis functions is inconvenienced in having to
stay near the medical device during the length of examination.
Thus, an alarm function of a medical device has been implemented
using a warning light or an acoustic sound so that a user may
recognize completion of examination or occurrence of errors in the
medical device even when being located away from the medical
device. In addition, when necessary, alarm information of a medical
device may be transmitted to a user's PC. However, an alarm using a
warning light or acoustic sound has a limitation in a distance to
which a user can perceive the alarm. Furthermore, in order to
transmit alarm information to a PC, a connection for transmitting
the alarm information has to be continuously maintained. This may
not only cause the waste of medical device's communication
resources but also hamper concentration of resources on an
examination function that is a basic function of the medical
device.
[0006] FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of conventional
configurations in which a medical device 101 or 107 implements an
alarm.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 1A, when a cause for an alarm occurs in
the medical device 101, the medical device 101 notifies a user side
105 of occurrence of the cause for alarm through a warning light or
speaker 103. According to this conventional method, a user is
inconvenienced in having to stay within a range in which the user
is able to see the warning light or perceive an alarm sound output
from the speaker.
[0008] Referring to FIG. 1B, when a cause for an alarm occurs in
the medical device 107, the medical device 107 transmits an alarm
notification to an in-house server 109 that will then deliver the
alarm notification to a user's PC 111 so that the user's PC 111
implement an alarm. However, in this case, since a connection for
transmitting alarm information to the user's PC 111 has to be
maintained continuously, communication resources of the medical
device may be wasted, and resources cannot be concentrated in a
main function, i.e., an examination function of the medical device
107.
SUMMARY
[0009] One or more exemplary embodiments include a method and
system for effectively implementing alarms for a medical device
through a mobile device.
[0010] One or more exemplary embodiments include a
computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a
program for executing the method on a computer.
[0011] One or more exemplary embodiments include an application for
providing an alarm through a mobile device that is connected
directly to a medical device.
[0012] One or more exemplary embodiments include a system
configured to not only provide an alarm notifying simple
examination-completion or error-occurrence but also individually
set alarm conditions for each examinee. In this case, it is
possible to set a range that is considered important in the result
of examination of an individual examinee and process a situation
that falls within the set range as emergency alarm.
[0013] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the
description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the presented
embodiments.
[0014] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a method of
implementing an alarm for a medical device through a mobile device
includes: storing details of examination of a specimen
(hereinafter, referred to as examination details) in the medical
device, wherein the storing is performed by the medical device;
accessing the medical device and establishing a connection with the
medical device, wherein the accessing and the establishing of the
connection is performed by the mobile device; reading the
examination details stored in the medical device, wherein the
reading is performed by the mobile device; analyzing the read
examination details, wherein the analyzing is performed by the
mobile device; and implementing an alarm if the result of analysis
satisfies a predetermined criterion, wherein the implementing is
performed by the mobile device.
[0015] The accessing may be performed for every predetermined
period.
[0016] The connection may be maintained only while the mobile
device accesses the medical device to establish the connection with
the medical device and reads the examination details from the
medical device.
[0017] If the result of analysis satisfies the predetermined
criterion, the result of the examination of the specimen
(hereinafter, referred to as an examination result) may deviate
from a preset range, or the examination of the specimen may be
completed.
[0018] The preset range may be set individually for each
examination item of an individual examinee.
[0019] When the examination result deviates from the preset range
and falls within a critical range, an alarm may be implemented, and
at the same time an alarm notification may be transmitted to a
predetermined destination.
[0020] The medical device may recognize a plurality of mobile
devices to record therein a history that examination details have
been read by each of the mobile devices and allow the mobile device
to read only examination details that have not been read by the
mobile device
[0021] The alarm may be implemented as at least one of a bell
sound, music, an acoustic sound, a vibration, flashing light, and a
popup window.
[0022] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a mobile
device for implementing an alarm for a medical device includes: a
transmitter for transmitting requests for establishing a connection
with the medical device and for reading details of examination of a
specimen (hereinafter, referred to as "examination details") stored
in the medical device; a receiver for receiving from the medical
device a response to accept the request for establishing the
connection with the medical device and the examination details; a
processor that analyzes the received examination details and
determines whether the result of analysis of the examination
details satisfies a predetermined criterion; and an alarm unit for
implementing an alarm if the result of analysis satisfies the
predetermined criterion.
[0023] The request for establishing the connection with the medical
device may be made for every predetermined period.
[0024] The connection may be maintained only while the mobile
device establishes the connection with the medical device and
receives the examination details from the medical device.
[0025] If the result of analysis satisfies the predetermined
criterion, the result of the examination of the specimen
(hereinafter, referred to as an examination result) may deviate
from a preset range, or the examination of the specimen may be
completed.
[0026] The preset range may be set individually for each
examination item of an individual examinee.
[0027] When the examination result deviates from the preset range
and falls within a critical range, an alarm may be implemented, and
at the same time an alarm notification may be transmitted to a
predetermined destination.
[0028] The mobile device may be set to read only examination
details that have not been read thereby.
[0029] The alarm may be implemented as at least one of a bell
sound, music, an acoustic sound, a vibration, flashing light, and a
popup window.
[0030] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a medical
device for implementing an alarm through a mobile device includes:
a specimen inserter for inserting the specimen; an examination and
processing unit that examines the specimen and processes the result
of examination of the specimen (hereinafter, referred to as an
examination result); a storage unit for storing the examination
result; a receiver for receiving requests for establishing a
connection and for reading details of the examination of the
specimen (hereinafter, referred to as examination details) from the
mobile device; and a transmitter for transmitting a response that
accepts the request for establishing the connection together with
the examination details.
[0031] The request for establishing the connection may be made for
every predetermined period.
[0032] The connection may be maintained only while the mobile
device establishes the connection with the medical device and
receives the examination details from the medical device.
[0033] The transmitter may transmit the examination result defined
as particular values or ranges of values.
[0034] When the examination result deviates from a preset range and
falls within a critical range, the transmitter may transmit an
alarm notification to a predetermined destination.
[0035] The medical device may recognize a plurality of mobile
devices to record therein a history that the examination details
have been read by each of the mobile devices and allow the mobile
device to read only examination details that have not been read by
the mobile device.
[0036] The mobile device may analyze the received examination
details and implement an alarm if the result of analysis of the
examination details satisfies a predetermined criterion.
[0037] The alarm may be implemented as at least one of a bell
sound, music, an acoustic sound, a vibration, flashing light, and a
popup window.
[0038] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a
non-transitory computer-readable recording medium has recorded
thereon a program for executing the method on a computer.
[0039] As described above, upon completion of examination of a
specimen using a medical device, or when the examination result
deviates from a preset range, an alarm may be generated through a
mobile device, thereby eliminating the need for an examiner to
continuously stay near or an examiner's PC to be connected to the
medical device during the examination. Furthermore, a connection
between the mobile device and the medical device is maintained only
while the mobile device accesses the medical device to establish a
connection therewith and reads details of examination from the
medical device, thereby reducing burden on a function of the
medical device other than an examination function. In other words,
the medical device may be dedicated to performing its main
function, i.e., an examination function by using resources of a
mobile device instead of resources of the medical device to
implement an alarm function. Furthermore, when the examination
result deviates from a preset range to fall within a critical
range, an emergency notification may be transmitted to a
predetermined destination while an alarm is being implemented, thus
allowing medical personnel to immediately identify a critical
condition in the examination result. Furthermore, a response to the
examination result may be set differently for an individual user,
thereby allowing medical personnel to more effectively respond to
the examination result. In addition, it is possible to set alarms
differently across a plurality of mobile devices that are connected
to the medical device, thereby allowing different settings and
notifications of alarms in response to the same examination result,
as needed by a diagnostic staff (or a user of a mobile device).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more
readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
and reference numerals therein denote structural elements, in
which:
[0041] FIGS. 1A and 1B are conceptual diagrams of conventional
methods of implementing alarms for medical devices;
[0042] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of implementing an alarm
for a medical device through a mobile device, according to an
exemplary embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system for implementing
an alarm for a medical device through a mobile device, according to
an exemplary embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a mobile device through
which an alarm for a medical device is implemented, according to an
exemplary embodiment;
[0045] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a medical device for
implementing an alarm through a mobile device, according to an
exemplary embodiment;
[0046] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile device
on which a medical device alarm application runs, according to an
exemplary embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile device
that displays a medical device list or appears when a button for
registering an unregistered medical device is selected, according
to an exemplary embodiment;
[0048] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile device
that appears when an item `view examination results` shown in FIG.
6 is selected, according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0049] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile device
that appears when `examination result 8` shown in FIG. 8 is
selected, according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0050] FIGS. 10A through 10C are schematic diagrams of screens of a
mobile device that appear when an item `set` shown in FIG. 6 is
selected, according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0051] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile
device that displays an alarm status list, according to an
exemplary embodiment; and
[0052] FIGS. 12A through 12D are schematic diagrams of message
windows that pop up on a screen of a mobile device when an alarm is
implemented as a popup window.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0053] The terms used in this specification are general terms
currently widely used in the art in consideration of functions in
regard to the present invention, but the terms may vary according
to the intention of one of ordinary skill in the art, precedents,
or the occurrence of new technologies in the art. Also, specific
terms may be selected by the applicant, and in this case, the
detailed meaning thereof will be described in the detailed
description of the invention. Thus, the terms used in the
specification should be understood not as simple names but based on
their meanings and the overall description of the invention.
[0054] Throughout the specification, it will also be understood
that when a component "includes" an element, unless there is
another opposite description thereto, the component does not
exclude another element but may further include another element. In
addition, terms such as ". . . unit", ". . . module", or the like
refer to units that perform at least one function or operation, and
the units may be implemented as hardware or software or as a
combination of hardware and software. Expressions such as "at least
one of," when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list
of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the
list.
[0055] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be
described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0056] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of outputting an alarm for
a medical device through a mobile device, according to an exemplary
embodiment. The method according to the present embodiment includes
operations performed by a mobile device 400 of FIG. 4 and a medical
device 500 of FIG. 5 in a time series. Thus, although omitted
hereinafter, the descriptions with respect to configurations shown
in FIGS. 4 and 5 may also apply to the method of FIG. 2.
[0057] Details of examination of a sample to be inspected
(hereinafter, referred to as a `specimen`) is stored in a medical
device (S201). The specimen may generally include various
biological tissues that are extracted from an examinee's body. A
representative specimen may be the examinee's blood, but is not
limited thereto. The specimen may be any specimen other than
biological tissue extracted from the examinee as long as it can be
inspected by the medical device. The details of examination that
are stored in the medical device (hereinafter, referred to as
"examination details") may include examination items, examination
result values, completion or incompletion of the examination,
occurrence of abnormal conditions, and falling within a critical
range. The examination details may be stored in a memory installed
in the medical device.
[0058] The mobile device establishes a connection (Operation 203)
with the medical device to have access therewith. The mobile device
is connected to the medical device via wired or wireless
communication networks such as in-house networks (Local Area
Network (LAN) and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)) or public networks (3G
and 4G). The networks are not limited to a particular type of
network. The mobile device may connect to the medical device at
irregular time intervals according to user manipulation or at every
predetermined period set by the user, i.e., user preferences or
settings. The connection between the mobile device and the medical
device may be maintained only while the mobile device is connected
to the medical device to have access therewith and reads the
examination details from the medical device. Limiting the duration
for the connection between the medical device and the mobile device
in this way may prevent the waste of communication resources due to
continuously maintaining the connection therebetween. The mobile
device may not be connected to only one medical device but may be
connected to a plurality of medical devices to have access to the
plurality of medical devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the
connections may be simultaneous or may not be simultaneous.
[0059] The medical device checks a history of the examination
details have been read by the mobile device that established a
connection therewith and determines whether there are new
examination details that have not been read by the mobile device
(Operation 205). The medical device may be configured to recognize
a plurality of mobile devices and record therein a history of
examination details have been read by each of the mobile devices
and to allow the mobile device to read only the new examination
details that have not been read by the mobile device.
[0060] If there are new examination details not read by the mobile
device, the mobile device reads the not-read examination details
stored in the medical device (Operation 207).
[0061] The mobile device analyzes the read examination details
(Operation 209). The examination details to be analyzed may include
all pieces of information contained in the read examination
details, such as examination items, examination result values,
completion or incompletion of the examination, occurrence of
abnormal conditions, and falling within a critical range.
[0062] If the result of analysis of examination details satisfies a
predetermined criterion, the mobile device implements an alarm
(Operation 211). If the result of analysis satisfies the
predetermined criterion, the result of examination of the specimen
(hereinafter, referred to as an "examination result") may deviate
from a preset range (e. g, occurrence of an abnormal condition or
the examination result falling within a critical range), or the
examination of the specimen may be completed. If the examination
result deviates from the preset range, it may be classified as
`occurrence of a simple abnormal condition` or `occurrence of a
critical condition` according to user's settings. The preset range
for the examination result may be individually set for each
examination item of an individual examinee.
[0063] The alarm may be implemented using various ways including a
bell sound, music, an acoustic sound, a vibration, flashing light,
and a popup window. The alarm may be output in different ways
according to situations classified as `occurrence of a simple
abnormal condition` occurrence of a critical condition', and
`completion of the examination.` FIGS. 12A through 12D illustrate
message windows that pop up on a screen of a mobile device when an
alarm is implemented as a popup window. FIGS. 12A and 12B are alarm
message windows that pop up on the screen of the mobile device when
the examination is normally completed and when an abnormal
condition occurs in the examination result, respectively. FIGS. 12C
and 12D are alarm message windows that pop up on the screen of the
mobile device upon occurrence of an error in a medical device and
upon occurrence of an emergency or a critical condition in the
examination result, respectively. If the examination result
deviates from a preset range to fall within a critical range, an
alarm may be output, and at the same time an emergency notification
may be transmitted to a predetermined destination such as a
hospital emergency room or a fire station. In this case, the
emergency notification may be transmitted using various methods
such as a Short Message Service (SMS) or an emergency call.
[0064] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system for implementing
an alarm for a medical device 301 through a mobile device 303,
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 3, the medical device 301 performs
examination on a specimen (Operation 305) and stores examination
details therein (Operation 307). The specimen may generally include
various biological tissues that are extracted from an examinee's
body. A representative specimen may be the examinee's blood, but is
not limited thereto. The specimen may be any specimen other than
biological tissue extracted from the examinee as long as it can be
inspected by the medical device 301. The stored examination details
may include examination items, examination result values,
completion or incompletion of the examination, occurrence of
abnormal conditions, and falling within a critical range. The
examination details may be stored in a memory installed in the
medical device 301.
[0066] The mobile device 303 has set up the connection to the
medical device 301 to have access therewith (Operation 309). The
mobile device 303 accesses and is connected to the medical device
301 via wired or wireless communication networks such as in-house
networks (LAN and WiFi) or public networks (3G and 4G). The
networks are not limited to a particular type of network. The
mobile device may connect to the medical device at irregular time
intervals according to user manipulation or at every predetermined
period set by the user. The connection between the mobile device
303 and the medical device 301 may be maintained only while the
mobile device 303 accesses the medical device to obtain information
therefrom and reads the examination details from the medical device
301. Limiting the duration for the connection between the medical
device 301 and the mobile device 303 in this way may prevent the
waste of communication resources due to continuously maintaining
the connection therebetween. The mobile device 303 may not be
connected to only one medical device but may be connected to a
plurality of medical devices to access therewith.
[0067] The medical device 301 checks a history of the examination
details that are read by the mobile device 303 that established a
connection therewith, and determines whether there are new
examination details that are not read by the mobile device 303
(Operation 311). The medical device 301 may be configured to
recognize a plurality of mobile devices and record therein a
history that examination details have been read by each of the
mobile devices and to allow the mobile device to read only the new
examination details that have not been read by the mobile
device.
[0068] If there are new examination details not read by the mobile
device 303, the mobile device 303 reads the unread examination
details stored in the medical device 301 (Operation 313).
[0069] The medical device 301 updates a history of examination
details read by the mobile device 303 (Operation 315). In other
words, the medical device 301 changes the read examination details
from a not-read status to a read status.
[0070] The mobile device 303 analyzes the read examination details
(Operation 317). The examination details to be analyzed may include
all pieces of information contained in the read examination
details, such as examination items, examination result values,
completion or incompletion of the examination, occurrence of
abnormal conditions, and falling within a critical range.
[0071] If the result of analysis of examination details satisfies a
predetermined criterion, the mobile device outputs an alarm
(Operation 319). If the result of analysis satisfies the
predetermined criterion, the examination result may deviate from a
preset range (e. g, occurrence of an abnormal condition, or the
examination result falling within a critical range), or the
examination of the specimen may be completed. If the examination
result deviates from the preset range, it may be classified as
`occurrence of a simple abnormal condition` or `occurrence of a
critical condition` according to user's settings. The preset range
for the examination result may be individually set for each
examination item of an individual examinee.
[0072] The alarm may be implemented using various ways including a
bell sound, music, an acoustic sound, a vibration, flashing light,
and a popup window. The alarm may be output in different ways
according to situations classified as `occurrence of a simple
abnormal condition` occurrence of a critical condition', and
`completion of the examination,` as shown in FIGS. 12A through 12D
that illustrate message windows that pop up on a screen of a mobile
device when an alarm is implemented as a popup window. FIGS. 12A
and 12B are alarm message windows that pop up on the screen of the
mobile device when the examination is normally completed and when
an abnormal condition occurs in the examination result,
respectively. FIGS. 12C and 12D are alarm message windows that pop
up on the screen of the mobile device upon occurrence of an error
in a medical device and upon occurrence of an emergency/a critical
condition in the examination result, respectively. If the
examination result deviates from a preset range to fall within a
critical range, an alarm may be output, and an emergency
notification may also be transmitted to a predetermined destination
such as a hospital emergency room or a fire station. In this case,
the emergency notification may be transmitted using various methods
such as an SMS or an emergency call.
[0073] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a mobile device 400 through
which an alarm for a medical device is output, according to an
exemplary embodiment. The mobile device 400 according to the
present embodiment includes a processor, a transmitter, a receiver,
an alarm control unit, an alarm device, and a display. All of the
aforementioned components of the mobile device may be implemented
as hardware components. In other exemplary embodiments, some of the
aforementioned components may be implemented as software components
or software modules.
[0074] The transmitter transmits to the medical device requests for
establishing a connection with the medical device and for reading
details of examination of a specimen (hereinafter, referred to as
"examination details") stored in the medical device. The requests
are made via wired or wireless communication networks such as
in-house networks (LAN and WiFi) or public networks (3G and 4G).
The networks are not limited to a particular type of network. When
necessary, the requests may be made through a connection between
the mobile device 400 and the medical device via Bluetooth. The
request for establishing a connection with the medical device may
be transmitted at irregular time intervals according to user
manipulation or at every predetermined period set by the user. The
requested connection may be maintained only while the mobile device
400 establishes a connection with the medical device and receives
the examination details therefrom. Limiting the duration for the
connection between the medical device and the mobile device 400 in
this way may prevent the waste of communication resources due to
continuously maintaining the connection therebetween. The mobile
device 400 may not be connected to only one medical device but may
be connected to a plurality of medical devices to access therewith.
In other words, the mobile device 400 may transmit a request for
establishing a connection to the plurality of medical devices.
[0075] The receiver receives a response to accept the request for
establishing a connection with the medical device and the
examination details from the medical device. When the response is
received from the medical device, a connection between the mobile
device 400 and the medical device is established, and the
examination details are received through the connection
therebetween.
[0076] The processor analyzes the examination details and
determines whether the result of analysis of the examination
details satisfies a predetermined criterion. The examination
details to be analyzed may include all pieces of information
contained in the read examination details, i.e., examination items,
examination result values, completion or incompletion of the
examination, occurrence of abnormal conditions, falling within a
critical range, etc. If the result of analysis satisfies a
predetermined criterion, the examination result may deviate from a
preset range (e.g., occurrence of an abnormal condition, or the
examination result falling within a critical range), or the
examination of the specimen may be completed. If the examination
result deviates from the preset range, it may be classified as
`occurrence of a simple abnormal condition` or `occurrence of a
critical condition` according to user's settings. The preset range
for the examination result may be individually set for each
examination item of an individual examinee. The processor may be
configured to allow the mobile device 400 to read only examination
details that have not been read by the mobile device. If there are
examination details not read by the mobile device, the mobile
device 400 reads the unread examination details stored in the
medical device.
[0077] When the result of analysis satisfies the predetermined
criterion, the alarm control unit implements an alarm through an
alarm device. The alarm may be implemented using various ways
including a bell sound, music, an acoustic sound, a vibration,
flashing light, and a popup window. The alarm may be output in
different ways according to situations classified as `occurrence of
a simple abnormal condition` `occurrence of a critical condition`,
and `completion of the examination,` as shown in FIGS. 12A through
12D that that illustrate message windows that pop up on a screen of
a mobile device when an alarm is implemented as a popup window. If
the examination result deviates from a preset range to fall within
a critical range, an alarm may be output, and an emergency
notification may also be transmitted to a predetermined destination
such as a hospital emergency room or a fire station. In this case,
the emergency notification may be transmitted using various methods
such as an SMS or an emergency call.
[0078] The display may display a user interface related to an alarm
for the medical device and information about a progress of
examination of a specimen.
[0079] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a medical device 500 for
implementing an alarm through a mobile device, according to an
exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the medical device 500
according to the present embodiment includes a specimen inserter,
an examination and processing unit, a storage unit, a receiver, and
a transmitter. As with the exemplary embodiment described in FIG.
4, each of these components may be implemented in hardware or
software.
[0080] The specimen inserter is configured to insert a specimen to
be inspected. The specimen may generally include various biological
tissues that are extracted from an examinee's body. A
representative specimen may be the examinee's blood, but is not
limited thereto. The specimen may be any specimen other than
biological tissue extracted from the examinee as long as it can be
inspected by the medical device 500.
[0081] The examination and processing unit performs examination of
a specimen in the same manner that medical examination equipment
generally performs and processes the examination result. The
examination result means details of the examination including
examination items, examination result values, completion/
incompletion of the examination, occurrence of abnormal conditions,
and falling within a critical range, and is symmetrically arranged
and processed. The examination and processing unit may be
configured to recognize a plurality of mobile devices and record
therein a history that the examination details have been read by
each of the mobile devices and to allow the mobile device to read
only new examination details that have not been read by the mobile
device. In other words, if there are new examination details not
read by the mobile device, the mobile device is allowed to read the
unread examination details stored in the medical device 500.
[0082] The storage unit stores the examination result processed by
the examination and processing unit.
[0083] The receiver receives requests for establishing a connection
with the medical device 500 and for reading examination details.
The requests may be received via wired or wireless communication
networks such as in-house networks (LAN and WiFi) or public
networks (3G and 4G). The networks are not limited to a particular
type of network. When necessary, the requests may be received
through a connection between the mobile device and the medical
device 500 via Bluetooth. The request for establishing a connection
with the medical device may be transmitted at irregular time
intervals according to user manipulation or at every predetermined
period set by the user. The requested connection may be maintained
only while the mobile device establishes a connection with the
medical device 500 and receives the examination details therefrom.
Limiting the duration for the connection between the medical device
and the mobile device 400 in this way may prevent the waste of
communication resources due to continuously maintaining the
connection therebetween. The medical device 500 may not be
connected to only one mobile device but establish a plurality of
connections with a plurality of mobile devices. Alarms may be set
differently across a plurality of mobile devices that are connected
to the medical device 500, thereby allowing different settings and
notifications of alarms in response to the same examination result,
as needed by a diagnostic staff (or a user of a mobile device)
[0084] The transmitter transmits to the mobile device a response
that accepts a request for establishing a connection with the
medical device 500 together with examination details. When the
mobile device receives the response from the medical device 500, a
connection between the mobile device and the medical device 500 is
established, and the examination details are transmitted through
the connection therebetween. In this case, the examination details
include examination result defined as particular values or ranges
of values. If the examination result deviates from a preset range
to fall within a critical range, the transmitter may transmit an
emergency notification to a predetermined destination such as a
hospital emergency room or a fire station. In this case, the
emergency notification may be transmitted using various methods
such as an SMS or an emergency call.
[0085] Upon receipt of the examination details from the medical
device 500, the mobile device analyzes the examination details and
implements an alarm if the result of analysis satisfies a
predetermined criterion. The alarm may be implemented using various
ways including a bell sound, music, an acoustic sound, a vibration,
flashing light, and a popup window. The alarm may be output in
different ways according to situations classified as `occurrence of
a simple abnormal condition` `occurrence of a critical condition`,
and `completion of the examination,` as shown in FIGS. 12A through
12D that illustrate message windows that pop up on a screen of a
mobile device when an alarm is implemented as a popup window. If
the examination result deviates from a preset range to fall within
a critical range, an alarm may be output, and an emergency
notification may also be transmitted to a predetermined destination
such as a hospital emergency room or a fire station. In this case,
the emergency notification may be transmitted using various methods
such as an SMS or an emergency call.
[0086] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile device
on which a medical device alarm application runs, according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0087] The mobile device may establish connections with a plurality
of medical devices. In the present exemplary embodiment, the mobile
device currently establishes connections with two medical devices
(medical device A and medical device B). The medical devices A and
B may be distinguished by their corresponding icons and a reference
numeral 601. In addition, current statuses 603 and 604 of the
medical device A 601 and the medical device B may be displayed.
Although the medical device A 601 is currently in a standby status,
the current status 603 of the medical device A 601 may be an off
status or a disconnected status, or may be represented in various
other ways such as a rate of progress of examination. According to
the present embodiment, the current status 604 of the medical
device B is an in-progress status and represents an examination
progress rate of 70%. When the medical apparatus A is selected by
using various control methods, e.g., by a user touching the screen,
pressing a button, and moving a cursor, items `view examination
results` and `set` 607 and 609 for the medical apparatus A are
displayed on the screen. In addition, a registered or unregistered
medical device list or a button 605 for registering an unregistered
medical device may be displayed on the screen.
[0088] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile device
that displays a medical device list or appears when the button 605
shown in FIG. 6 for registering an unregistered medical device is
selected, according to an exemplary embodiment. Medical devices A
and B connected to the mobile device are distinguished by their
corresponding ions and reference numeral 701 and displayed on the
medical device list together with IP addresses 703 thereof. In
addition, a separate button 705 for registering an unregistered
medical device may be displayed on the screen. When the separate
button 705 is selected by various control methods, e.g., by a user
touching the screen, pressing a button, and moving a cursor, a list
of unregistered medical devices that are connectable to the mobile
device may be displayed on the screen. When the user selects a
desired medical device from the list for registration, the selected
medical device may be added to the medical device list so that it
may be registered together with the medical devices A and B.
[0089] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile device
that appears when an item `view examination results` shown in FIG.
6 is selected, according to an exemplary embodiment. An examination
result list may be displayed on the screen so that examination
results 1 through 8 in the examination result list are arranged in
reverse chronological order (most recent examination at the top of
the list) or in other ways. An item 801 indicating each of the
examination results 1 through 8 may be displayed together with date
and time 803 of examination.
[0090] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile device
that appears when `examination result 8` shown in FIG. 8 is
selected, according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG.
9, an examination result item 901 may include examination items
903, examination result values 905, and normal reference ranges
907. According to the examination result values 905, an alarm range
indicator 909 and a critical range indicator 911 may be added. In
the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the examination items 903
such as Albumin (ALB), Total Protein (TP), Cholesterol (CHOL),
Glucose (GLU), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), and High-Density
Lipoprotein (HDL) are indicated as having an alarm range value, and
the examination item 903 such as BUN is indicated as having a
critical range value.
[0091] Examination items 903 may include, but not limited to, ALB,
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase), Amylase
(AMY), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), BUN, CHOL, Creatine Kinase
(CK), Creatinine (CRE), Direct Bilirubin (DBIL), Total Bilirubin
(TBIL), GLU, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), HDL, Prostate Specific Antigen
(PSA), Troponin I (TnI), and Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP). The
examination items 903 may also include other various items that can
be inspected by a medical device without limitation.
[0092] FIGS. 10A through 10C are schematic diagrams of screens of a
mobile device that appear when the item `set` 609 shown in FIG. 6
is selected, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0093] FIG. 10A illustrates a screen for setting an alarm upon
selection of the item `set` 609 shown in FIG. 6. The alarm may be
set to be output upon completion of examination 1001, upon
occurrence of an abnormal condition 1003 (falling out of a preset
range), and when a BUN value falls within a critical range 1005.
The alarm for each menu item 1001, 1003, or 1005 may be set to be
output according to whether a check box next to the item 1001,
1003, or 1005 is checked. By selecting a button 1007, a critical
range for a particular examination item may be additionally
set.
[0094] Upon selection of the button 1007, a screen of the mobile
device shown in FIG. 10B is displayed. For example, if a critical
range for ALT value is set, the type of an acoustic sound or
activation of a vibration may be selected, and the critical range
for ALT value may be directly determined and entered by a user.
When a button 1015 for selecting the type of acoustic sound is
pressed, an acoustic sound selection window with a plurality of
acoustic sounds listed is displayed in a popup window on the
screen, and a desired acoustic sound is selected as an alarm by the
user in various ways, e.g. by touching the screen, pressing a
button, and moving a cursor. Similarly, when a button 1017 for
selecting an examination item whose critical range will be set is
pressed, an examination item selection window with a plurality of
examination items listed is displayed in a popup window on the
screen, and a desired examination item is selected by the user in
various ways, e.g. by touching the screen, pressing a button, and
moving a cursor. A numeric pad 1019 may also be displayed to allow
the user to directly enter a value. When the critical range for ALT
value is set by performing the above process, item ALT 1021 may be
added to the screen for setting an alarm shown in FIG. 10A and
displayed as shown in FIG. 10C.
[0095] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a screen of a mobile
device that displays an alarm status list, according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0096] A current alarm status that is read by the mobile device
from medical devices (medical devices A and B) may be displayed as
an alarm status list shown in FIG. 11. The current alarm status
list may be arranged in reverse chronological order by placing
alarm items in order from most recently outputted alarms (i.e., the
latest alarm at the top of the list), or in the opposite order.
Alarm items may be classified by an icon 1101 indicating completion
of examination, an icon 1105 indicating occurrence of an abnormal
condition, and an icon 1107 indicating occurrence of an emergency.
Each of the alarm items may include identification (ID) information
1103 about a medical device that has transmitted an alarm, ID
information 1109 about an examinee, and date and time 1111 when the
alarm is output.
[0097] The above methods according to the embodiments of the
present invention can be recorded as programs that can be executed
on a computer and be implemented through general-purpose digital
computers which can run the programs using a computer-readable
recording medium. Data structures described in the above method can
also be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium in a
variety of ways. Program storage devices that can be used to
describe a storage device containing computer codes executable to
perform various methods according to the present invention are not
understood to include transitory media such as carrier waves or
signals. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include
recording media, such as magnetic storage media (e.g., ROM, floppy
disks, hard disks, etc.), and optical recording media (e.g.,
CD-ROMs or DVDs).
[0098] While one or more embodiments of the present invention have
been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood
by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention as defined by the following
claims. Thus, it should be understood that the exemplary
embodiments described therein should be considered in a descriptive
sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the
invention is defined not by the detailed description of the
invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within
the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents will be
construed as being included in the present invention.
* * * * *